 |
In the late 1950s, with the rampant growth of Los Angeles spreading south,
there was a sense of urgency to develop the 93,000-acre Irvine Ranch that lay
directly in the path of urban sprawl. Although there was tremendous pressure to
sell off the Ranch piece by piece, the directors of The Irvine Company made a
historic decision to create a Master Plan that would guide the Ranch's orderly,
long-term growth.
|
|
 |
|
The history of land stewardship began long before The Irvine Company.
It began more than 200 years ago with the establishment of the Spanish and
Mexican land grants. In order to obtain a grant, a case had to be presented to
the King's representatives ensuring a solid plan was in place to "care for the land."
This early commitment to stewardship had a profound effect on all subsequent owners of
The Irvine Ranch®, as the land was most valuable when held together as one complete
parcel. |
|
Other influences, such as the search for a new UC campus, increasing pressures from
surrounding cities to make land use decisions, as well as politics prompted The Irvine
Company to consider a bold plan: to maintain the Ranch under single ownership and develop
a Master Plan for its orderly transition form agriculture to urban land uses.
|
|
